ARCADIA, Calif. - Merit Man could have won Saturday’s $100,000 Tim Conway Stakes at Santa Anita by more than 5 1/2 lengths if he had paid attention through all of the six furlongs. “He kind of pulled himself up at bit when he saw a photographer,” winning jockey Patrick Valenzuela said. “He’s a nice horse." And a horse on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint here on Nov. 2 after winning his stakes debut in the Tim Conway. “He’s totally a sprinter,” winning trainer Bob Hess, Jr. said. “He was fluid over the dirt, which I expected. He broke more alertly, which I expected.” Merit Man ($7.80) fought for the lead throughout the Conway and was in command in early stretch. He was timed in 1:10.56. South Floyd, the winner of a maiden race at Fairplex Park in September, finished second, followed by No Rachmones, Zeewat, and Scherer Magic, the 6-5 favorite. Scherer Magic was just behind the leaders to the turn before fading from contention. Merit Man races for the partnership of Bruce Chandler, Double Kee and Purple Shamrock Racing. A colt by With Distinction, Merit Man won a maiden race at Del Mar on Sept. 2 in his first start. He has earned $102,000. The mount on Merit Man was Valenzuela’s first ride since Sept. 28. He missed a week of racing because of a sore knee. “I’m a little sore, but I feel good,” he said after the race.